Veterans’ experiences with mindfulness-based eating: A mixed methods study on MB-SAVOR
Tracy Herrmann, Emily Preib, Madeline French, Julie L. Beckstrom, Elena Nazarenko, Ryan Lackner, William R. Marchand, Brandon Yabko
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice February 11, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101548 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative interview study with pre-post clinical outcome assessment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | US Military Veterans completing a mindfulness-based eating program |
| Intervention | MB-SAVOR |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Veterans described increased awareness of eating cues and patterns, greater enjoyment of food, dietary improvements, and a stronger mind-body connection after MB-SAVOR. Pre-to-post measures showed decreased weight and BMI, while HbA1C change was not statistically significant. The authors conclude the program is feasible and safe and may improve Veterans' relationship with food and the body. |
Abstract
Background: Disordered eating is prevalent among US Military Veterans who have a high incidence of obesity, diabetes, and mental illness. Mindfulness is an evidenced-based intervention for some mental health disorders, is well received by Veterans, and may be useful in treating disordered eating behavior in this population. The aim of this study was to assess and describe Veterans' experience with MB-SAVOR, a novel mindfulness-based eating program, and determine if it improved their relationship with food and the body.
Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted among 16 Veterans completing the program. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using constant comparative method, an iterative and inductive process. Rapid assessment process was used to understand their views on program structure. Inferential statistics were conducted to assess outcomes of pre-topost-intervention weight, BMI, and HbA1C, and influences of demographics.
Results: Five themes were identified related to experience: Awareness of Eating Cues, Noticing Eating Behaviors and Patterns, Greater Enjoyment of Food, Dietary Improvements, and Mind Body Connection. Four themes were identified related to program structure: Reasons for Enrollment, Prior Experiences and Comparison with MB-SAVOR, Program Information, Impression, and Barriers, and Improvement Suggestions. Clinical outcomes were decreased weight (p = 0.007, d = 0.82), BMI (p = 0.004, d = 0.9), and HbA1C (p = 0.3) post-intervention.
Conclusions: These findings contribute to our understanding of the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of MB-SAVOR on improving Veterans' relationship with food and the body. These data help us understand Veterans' perspectives and motivations regarding treatment engagement for several diet related problems contributing to obesity and diabetes.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- An Exploratory Study of a Meditation-based Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder Journal of Health Psychology May 1, 1999
- Mindful Eating: Connecting With the Wise Self, the Spiritual Self Frontiers in Psychology August 14, 2018
- Mindful Eating With Diabetes Diabetes Spectrum May 1, 2017
- Mindfulness-based interventions for military veterans: A systematic review and analysis of the literature. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice February 2021
- Veterans' interests, perceptions, and use of mindfulness. SAGE Open Medicine July 31, 2020
and 3 more in the library